SAP resource site

Data elements are the schematic representation of the domain. They further add characteristics to the domains. This article explains all about the data elements in SAP ABAP.

Go to SE11 to create a new Data Element.

Data Element SAP

One can specify the existing Domain or we can use predefined data type (not recommended) without domain.We can also specify Reference type where properties of the data elements will be taken from other element specified.

Further Characteristics Data Element

Go to further characteristics tab. Now you can specify search help for this data element.

Name of the search help and the parameter (field) in the search help is required. This search help will come in F4 help of the selection screen corresponding to this data element.

Parameter ID can be specified here. Parameter id uses SAP memory to store a value for that data element.

You can use this parameter ID to set the field value for that field. The parameter ID should be first created in TPARA table then only you can use that.(Use SM30 to add entries to TPARA table by clicking maintain)

Example in case of MATNR , Parameter ID is MAT . So if you want to set the value of MATNR in any transaction (MM01 ) , then just use SET PARAMETER FIELD MAT1 value and call that transaction.

Parameter ID example

Default Component Name is the English name for that data element (Particularly useful for BAPI structure) .

Field label is used to define the label for the field. We can specify Short Medium Long and Heading version of the field label. According to the required labels (ex: ALV grid) , the version suited is picked up and displayed.